A brief history of nano – which goes back further than you might think – and where we are now. A story that includes scientists, futurologists, hucksters, terrorists, politicians, the media, and everyone else. Alongside the genuine excitement in the possibilities, nanotechnology has also come with the unwelcome accompaniment of a great deal of both hype and alarmism. How much is the reality swamped by the Hollywood plot device, and what does it tell us about the link between science and the public?

Dr Mike Fay is Research Fellow at the Nottingham Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Centre, part of the University of Nottingham, where he is responsible for the day to day operation of the Centre’s electron microscopy suite. He was also responsible for the production of the world’s smallest periodic table, which was written on a human hair. This feat was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records in 2011.